Page:Labour in Madras.djvu/85

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LABOUR IN MADRAS
59


59 cerned, the Government and the public must take up the matter immediately. On November 28th evening a meeting was held in view of the situation brought about by the lock-out. About 5,000 people were present. Mr. Wadia presided and gave the following speech : Once again in an hour of distress we meet here to consider the situation, arisen because of the strange and uncalled for action of the mill authorities. At the very outset let me tell you that I am extremely sorry to hear of the reports that have come from various sides, that some of the labourers at both the mills--the Buckingbam and Carnatic Mills, have behaved in a very regrettable manner. From the very beginning of our Labour Union I have repeatedly advised you not to take to rougher methods which are not inherent in our civilisation, which are not cogent to our culture. Our ways must always be, as I advised you, the ways of constitutional, peaceful and harmonious evolution. All rougher methods of insult by word of mouth, or of assault by hard, or weapon of any kind is to be deprecated by us. I am very sorry to note that advice of mine has not been followed in this particular instance. So far as that action goes, you may not perhaps like my saying so, my sympathy goes entirely with Mill authorities. No factory, no concern employing hundreds or thousands of labourers an afford to put up with indiscipline of that kind or of that description. And therefore because of our duty as members of the Labour Union, with definite principles, we must help the Mill authorities as well as the Police authorities to trace the culpritsand